FINISTERE

FINISTERE, or FINISTERRE, the most western of the French departments, and forming part of the old province of Bretagne, is bounded on the N.W. and S. by the ocean, while on the E. it has the departments of Cotes-du-Nord and Morbihan. It extends from N. Lat. 47. 44. to 48. 47., and from W. Long. 3. 22. to 4. 50.; being 78 miles in length from N. to S. by 63 in width, and having an area of 666,705 hectares, or 2574 square miles. Two chains of hills run nearly parallel from E. to W. through this department, and divide it into three zones of nearly equal extent, conveying the waters in three different directions. North of the Arrez, or more northern of the two chains, the waters of the Douron, Jarleuc, Penzé, Flèche, &c., flow northward to the sea. South of the Noires range the Odet, Aven, Ioste, and Elle, flow southward; while the region inclosed by the two chains having a declination westward, the waters of the Aulne and the Elorn flow into the Brest roads. The rivers are all small, and none of the hills attain a height of 900 feet. The coasts are generally steep and rocky, and indented with numerous bays and inlets, affording some excellent harbours, the principal being those of Brest, Morlaix, Landernau, Quimper, and Douarnenez. The only navigable rivers are the Aulne, Elorn, and Odet. Off the coast lie a number of islands and rocky islets, the principal of which are Ushant and Bas. The climate is temperate, but rather humid; the prevailing winds are the W., S.W., and N.W. Of the 1,647,521 acres contained in this department, 675,142 are arable, 663,678 heath and waste land, 81,055 woods and forests, 101,095 meadow land, and 24,797 gardens, orchards, &c. Though so small a portion of the land is under cultivation, yet the produce of corn is more than sufficient for the population, and would be still greater were more scientific methods pursued in its cultivation. The chief crops are oats, rye, wheat, and barley; flax, hemp, and pulse, of good quality, are also produced. The pasturage being good, considerable attention is given to the rearing of cattle; and the fisheries of the coast, particularly the pilchard fishery, employ a great many hands, and render this department an excellent nursery of seamen for the French navy. Finistère is rich in minerals—iron, coal, lead, bismuth, and zinc mines, are worked; as well as quarries of granite, slate, marble, and porphyry. The lead mines of Poullaoen and Huégoët are among the largest in France, and the ore extracted yields a considerable quantity of silver. The manufactures are linens, woollens, sailcloth, ropes, paper, leather, earthenware, soda, soap, candles, sugar, &c. Ship-building is carried on at Brest and other of the seaports. Finistère is divided into 5 arrondissements as follows:—